Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

J T *

Subjects:

Spiritualism, Politics, War, Charlatanry

    This illustration shows Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, the leaders of the Union and Confederate causes in the American Civil War, as the American mediums William H H Davenport and Ira E Davenport. Just as the Davenport brothers produced spiritualistic manifestations whilst tied to chairs in a wooden box, so the American leaders are shown tied to wooden benches with ropes. The ropes around both are labelled 'debt': this is a reference to the crippling debts incurred both by the Unionist and Confederate forces, debts from which neither side seemed able to escape.